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Kicking Horse

Kicking Horse Ski Resort

There are only five lifts at Kicking Horse, but the resort just outside of Golden, BC is home to some of Canada’s finest steep skiing.

The base to summit Golden Eagle Express gondola transformed this locals hill in 2000, providing access to some of Canada’s steepest inbounds terrain. Plentiful snowfall makes this one of the most reliable places to score powder and with so much terrain served by a single lift (there is also the Stairway to Heaven chairlift that serves part of the upper mountain) fresh tracks last longer here than at many other major resorts. The steep terrain is so good that the Freeride World Tour stop off here every winter.

Kicking Horse’s small size means that it is an ideal stopover point if you’re heading on a multi-resort trip through Canada. Banff is not too far away to the east and Revelstoke is only two hours to the west.

Our Kicking Horse Resort Ratings

Beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Intermediate ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Advanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fast Lifts ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Resort Activities ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Après ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Value ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Pros

Epic steep skiing and great vertical

Spectacular scenery and views across BC

Great stopover point on a Canadian ski roadtrip

Cons

Gondola needs a midstation – you have to ski the whole way to the base

Upper mountain can be challenging in bad weather conditions

Very little at the resort base – Golden is a drive away

Photo Gallery

Kicking Horse Skiing and Snowboarding

Although there are two shorter lifts at the base of the mountain serving decent beginner terrain and a long top to base green run, this really isn’t a resort for beginners or early intermediates. Some of the blues on the upper mountain are well within the reach of adventurous intermediates, but Kicking Horse is very much geared towards advanced or expert skiers and snowboarders.

There are five ridges that form natural divides in the terrain, all of which offer steep descents down gullies and chutes, as well as some slightly more gentle bowls. CPR Ridge and Redemption Ridge are the most easily accessible, without the need to hike anywhere from the lift system. T1 and T2 ridges off Terminator Peak are less frequently skied as a bootpack is required, and thus are great spots to head to a few days after fresh snowfall.

Total Pistes: 3486 acres

Beginner: 20%

Intermediate: 20%

Advanced: 45%

Expert: 15%

Lifts: 5

Altitude: 1190m – 2505m

Kicking Horse Piste Map

Kicking Horse Resort

On the hill there are some accommodation options – good for staying for a few days, but you’ll quickly find the evenings are very quiet and there is nothing to really do off the slopes. This is why we would recommend stopping here for a few days on your way through Canada, or staying down in the town of Golden – there is a lot more going on here after skiing.

Although on-mountain dining options are limited, Kicking Horse is home to one of the finest alpine restaurants in Canada – the Eagle’s Nest. Not only is the scenery epic, but the food is excellent.

How to get to Kicking Horse

Calgary lies around three and a half hours to the east of Kicking Horse. Hiring a car will not only make this journey smooth, but it will also mean you can visit other resorts such as Banff, Revelstoke or Sun Peaks.